AU738157B3

AU738157B3 - Personal flotation device

Info

Publication number: AU738157B3
Application number: AU71558/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Hanson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-14
Filing date: 2000-11-14
Publication date: 2001-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-14
Also published as: WO2001044044A1

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

S

SEC

O 113 Name of Applicant: JOHM HhANON s- o ZcA Actual Inventor: JOHN HANSON Invention Title: PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE Address for Service: Details of Associated Provisional Applications Nos: PP4655 FILED 14 DECEMBER 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a personal flotation device.

BACKGROUND ART The necessity for some form of flotation device is apparent from the many recent occurrences of drownings particularly in surf conditions where swimmers or bathers may be inexperienced in such conditions and/or are swimming or bathing in an area which is not patrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers. A number of different forms of personal flotation device are currently available usually in the configuration of a life jacket or vest which is worn by a user who is partaking in a pastime where water safety is a requirement. Such pastimes include water skiing, and boating including sailing. The currently available life jackets or vests however are generally bulky and restrict movement. Further life jackets or vests are not useful- where a person requires a temporary floatation device when swimming or bathing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide a flotation device which is relatively compact and may be simply and effectively worn by a user to provide protection against drowning. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides a personal flotation device adapted to be worn by a user, said device including an inflatable gas container having a mouth; a gas capsule for containing a compressed gas for inflating said inflatable gas container, said gas capsule having a piercable section at one end; a hollow housing containing said gas capsule, said housing having a cylindrical side wall and first and second opposite ends, said piercable section of said capsule being located adjacent said first end of said housing, said mouth of said inflatable gas container being sealed to said side wall of said housing and/or said second end of said housing such that said first end of said housing is located within said inflatable gas container; means at said first end of said housing for supplying gas from said capsule to said inflatable gas container, said means including piercing means for piercing said piercabie section of said capsule; and actuating means associated with said housing and being actuable to cause said 3 piercing means to move relative to said capsule to pierce said piercable section of said capsule to supply gas to said inflatable gas container to inflate said gas container to provide buoyancy to a user in water.

Preferably the actuating means is mounted by a threaded connection to said housing whereby rotation of said actuating means relative to the housing caused the piercing means to be moved longitudinally relative to the capsule to effect piercing of the piercable section of the capsule. The capsule may comprise a capsule of compressed carbon dioxide or any other suitable gas. The housing may be in one part or may comprise a number of parts which may be threadably interconnected.

Suitably the actuating means is provided with the piercing means and is at the first end of the housing such that when actuated, the piercing means pierces of the pierceable section of the capsure. The actuating means may comprise an actuating member threaded into the first end of the capsule housing, the member having an actuating lever or arm which when rotated, causes through the thread relationship the piercing means to be advanced to engage and penetrate the pierceable section of the capsule. The piercing means preferably comprises a hollow piercing member and the actuating member includes at least one passage communicating with the piercing member through which gas can escape into the envelope. The actuating lever may also include an additional passage communicating with the piercing member or region around the piercing for enhancing escape of gas from the capsule into the inflatable container for more rapid inflation of the inflatable container and to prevent icing up in the event that the capsule is not fully penetrated.

The inflatable container may be attached to the housing by any suitable arrangement such as by an O-ring or clamping ring which clamps the mouth of the inflatable container to the cylindrical side wall of the housing and suitably locates in a groove therein. Where the mouth of the envelope is secured to the second end of the housing, it may extend around the end to be clamped to that end by a screw.

Alternatively or additionally, adhesive means may be used for securing the mouth of the inflatable container to the housing.

The inflatable container may be formed of any suitable thin flexible or pliable material substantially impervious to the gas of the capsule. Typically, the inflatable container may be formed of plastics material, such as a thin vinyl material or of a latex rubber. Preferably the envelope comprises a balloon which expands with 3A expansion of the gas when released from the capsule. For added security, a pair of inflatable containers may be provided one located within the other.

The inflatable container, capsule and housing containing the capsule may be arranged within a bag which may be releasably attached to or mounted on a belt which is arranged to be secured around the user's waist. The bag may include buckles or other connectors for connecting opposite ends of a belt passed in use about a user's waist or alternatively the bag may include a loop or loops through 4 which a belt may be passed for attachment to the user. The bag may include a flap at one end which in the inactive position is folded into the remainder of the bag and which, when the container is inflated, is unfolded outwardly. The bag is suitably also attached to the housing and preferably to the end of the housing opposite the actuating member by a clamping screw. The bag typically may be formed of any fabric suitably a synthetic fabric.

In an alternative arrangement, the piercing member may be lever actuated by means of a lever member which when pulled will effect piercing of the capsule. The lever may be attached to a flap of the bag such that pulling of the flap will actuate the lever causing piercing of the capsule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates the device of the present invention in an inoperative attitude; Fig. 2 illustrates in sectional view the device of Fig. 1 prior to inflation; Fig. 3 illustrates in enlarged sectional view the device of Fig. 1 partially inflated; Fig. 4 illustrates the manner of use of the device of the invention with the container inflated; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate further embodiments of the device of the invention; and Fig. 7 illustrates in sectional view yet a further embodiment of the device of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a personal flotation device 10 according to the present invention including a bag 11 formed of lightweight fabric. The bag 11 has a generally tubular body 12 closed by a flap 13 at one end which is folded into the body in the closed attitude of the bag 11.

The body 12 of the bag 11 includes a loop or loops 14 for receipt of a belt 15 for attachment around the waist of a user.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the bag 11 contains an inflatable container 17 which is preferably formed of a lightweight flexible elastic or pliable impervious material suitably vinyl, plastics or rubber and which substantially surrounds a hollow cylindrical capsule housing 18 suitably formed of plastics or lightweight metal.

The mouth 19 of the container 17 surrounds and is sealed against the outer cylindrical wall of the housing 18 by virtue of the elasticity of the material of the container 17.

The mouth 19 however may also extend around the end of the housing 18 to be clamped to the housing 18 by a screw 20 threaded into the end of the housing 18 and washer 21.

The screw 20 may also clamp the end of the bag 11 opposite to the flap 13 to the housing 18 via a washer if necessary(see Fig. When the screw 20 is threaded into the housing 18, it seats on a shoulder to seal the end of the housing 18 to prevent escape of gas therefrom.

Provided at the opposite end of the housing 18 is an actuator 22 for actuating the device 10. The internal cavity of the housing 18 which is of generally cylindrical form is of a size to contain a compressed gas capsule 23 as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The actuator 22 is in threaded engagement with the end of the housing 18 and thus closes the housing 18 such that it is substantially sealed. The actuator 22 includes a radially extending lever or arm 24 and a hollow piercing member which communicates with a passage 26 opening into the inflatable container 17 through the end of the actuator 22. The lever 24 may also include a passage 27 communicating with the piercing member In use and as shown in Fig.4, the device 10 is attached to a belt 15 which is passed around the waist of a user 28. The user 28 may the wear the device 10 whilst swimming and the device 10, because of its size and location, will provide little impediment to swimming or movement of the user 28. If the user 28 however is in difficulty, he or she may simply rotate the lever 24 to urge the actuator 22 inwardly so that the piercing member 25 penetrates the pierceable end 29 of the capsule 23 to permit the gas in the capsule 22 to escape through the passages 26 and 27 into the container 17 to effect inflation thereof. As the container 17 is inflated, the flap 13 of the bag 12 will be forced open allowing the container 17 inflate. The container 17 will thus be inflated at the front of the user 28 who may with one or both hands hold the inflated container17 against the body so as to receive buoyant support until rescued or he or she is able to make their own way to safety.

For reuse, the housing 18 (and capsule 23) and container 17 may be 6 simply discarded and those components replaced whilst the bag 11 is retained.

Many different arrangements may be provided for actuating the device and for allowing release of gas from the capsule 23 into the container 17. For example, a cam or lever type actuator may be used. In the latter case, the end of the actuator may carry the piercing member 25 and may be actuated by pulling, pushing or alternatively, the lever may be attached to a strap or flap which is part of or attached to the bag 11 such that when the strap or flap is pulled, the lever is urged into contact with the capsule to penetrate the capsule and allow release of gas.

The gas container whilst usually of a balloon shape may be of any other shape or configuration. The preferred gas stored in the capsule is compressed carbon dioxide but other gases may be employed. Any suitable means may be provided for releasably securing the device 10 to the user 28. Such means may comprise buckles, clips or other fastener or alternatively, the bag 13 of the device may be permanently attached to the belt. Of course, the device 10 may be simply hand carried for use in other situations for example where sailing or boating or attached to another part of the body.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, in which like components to the components of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 have been given like numerals, the housing 18 is provided with an annular groove 30 to accept an O-ring 31 which serves to sealingly clamp the mouth 19 of the container/s 17 around its periphery to the housing 18. Of course in this arrangement it is not necessary for the mouth 19 to extend around the end of the housing 18.

For further security also, the loop 14 of the bag 11 as shown in Fig. 6 may be provided with an extended tag 32 which includes an end 33 which extends around the end of the housing 18 and which is apertured to receive the screw 20 which can clamp the end 33 and thus the tag 32 and loop 14 positively to the end of the housing 18.

Fig. 7 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 5 and in which like components have been given like numerals. In this case, the housing 18 is divided into two parts 34 and 35, the part 34 having an internal thread 36 and the part 35 having an external cooperable thread 37 on an extending spigot. The parts 34 and 35 are detached for allowing easy insertion of the capsule 23 whilst when the capsule 23 is place in position, an adhesive may be applied 7 to the threads 36 and/or 37 to secure the housing parts 34 and 35 substantially permanently together. The housing part 35 includes an annular recess 30 to accept the O-ring 31 to clamp the mouth 19 of the inflatable container or balloon 17 in position around the outer surfaces of the housing parts 34 and 35. The mouth 19 of the balloon 17 may also be adhered to the outer surfaces of the housing parts 34 and 35 by suitable adhesives. If necessary, the mouth 19 may be folded back upon itself to provide two layers about the housing 18. The housing part 34 also includes an externally threaded spigot portion 38 at its free end for threaded engagement by an internally threaded cap 39 having a central aperture 26 terminating in a piercing member 25. The cap 39 has an extended actuating arm 40 for effecting rotation of the cap 39, the arm 40 also having a passage 41 which opens through the arm 40 and which communicates with the passage 26 from the piercing member 25 to allow for greater escape of gas into the balloon 17 (shown uninflated in this embodiment).

The bag 12 in this case includes a zipper 42 extending longitudinally along the bag 12 which when unzipped facilitates insertion of the housing 18 into the bag 12, the bag 12 as in the previous embodiments being secured by a clamping screw to the end of the housing 18.

The device shown in Fig. 7 operates in a similar manner to the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 5 with the cap 39 being rotated by the lever 40 to advance the piercing member 25 and cause it to pierce the end of the capsule allowing the gas in the capsule 23 to inflate the balloon 17 shown partly inflated in dotted outline.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

1. A personal flotation device adapted to be worn by a user, said device including an inflatable gas container having a mouth; a gas capsule for containing a compressed gas for inflating said inflatable gas container, said gas capsule having a piercable section at one end; a hollow housing containing said gas capsule, said housing having a cylindrical side wall and first and second opposite ends, said piercable section of said capsule being located adjacent said first end of said housing, said mouth of said inflatable gas container being sealed to said side wall of housing and/or said second end of said housing such that said first end of said housing is located within said inflatable gas container; means at said first end of said housing for supplying gas from said capsule to said inflatable gas container, said means including piercing means for piercing said piercable section of said capsule; and actuating means associated with said housing and being actuable to cause said piercing means to move relative to said capsule to pierce said piercable section of said capsule to supply gas to said inflatable gas container to inflate said gas container to provide buoyancy to a user in water.

2. A personal flotation device according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means is mounted by a threaded connection to said housing whereby rotation of said actuating means relative to said housing causes said piercing means to be moved longitudinally relative to said capsule and effect piercing of said piercable section of said capsule.

3. A personal flotation according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said housing is located in and fixed to a bag releasably mounted on or attachable to a belt adapted to be secured around the waist of a user. Dated this eighteenth day of April 2001 ENZTECH DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED